Charles niyison



(No Model.)

0. NIVISON.

FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 569,657. Patented Oct. 20, 1896,.

Witnesssess: lr usntor,

UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrrcn.

CHARLES NIVISON, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE KALAMAZOO SLED COMPANY AND FRANK ll. UNDERWOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,657, dated October 20, 1896. Application filed March 1, 1895. Serial No. 540,141. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES NIVISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in chairs, and more particularly to improvements in folding chairs.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a folding chair which shall be very compact; second, to provide a folding chair which shall be very light and conveniently portable as acane; third, to provide a folding chair in which the joints are very simple and very strong; fourth, to provide a folding chair which is not easy to get out of order; fifth, to provide a folding chair which is surely operative; sixth, to provide a folding chair which, when shut together, will be held automatically. I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 presents a perspective view of my improved chair in position for use. Fig. 2 presents a rear elevation of the same folded. 3 presents aview, partially in section, on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at presents a side elevation of the same in position for use, partially in section, on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, looking up. Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 0 6 of Fig. 2, looking down. Fig. 7 is a detail View of a modified construction showing the middle or rear leg B divided into two parts B to give the same greater support.

In the drawings all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section-lines.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A is the back, formed from a single rod or piece which is doubled over to form the top of the back and extends down at A A to form the forward legs. Between the loop soformed is supported the rear leg 13 of the chair, which is pivoted between the legs A A by the pivot n. The front of the rear leg B is pivoted att to the front of the chair-seat O. A bent rod r extends across the loop A at the appropriate height for the back of the chair-seat and is adapted to receive the rear end of the chair-seat and support the same. On the rear end of the chair-seat is a block or stop r, which is adapted to fit the rear side of the bent rod r. On the rod 7' is piv oted a loop of wire D, which is connected at its forward extremity by the link D to the pivot t. The loop 4 is curved rearwardly.

When it is desired to fold my improved chair, the back of the seat C is raised and the leg B folded back to a position parallel with the legs A A. A spring-catch 'uon the leg 13 is adapted to engage the rod r and hold the chair securely in place when it is folded. The seat C is folded fiat against the back A, and is held there securely on account of its fitting against the back with the pivot 25 between its front and rear edge. The offset in the rod 1' permits the leg 13 to swing into a position exactly parallel with the legs A A. (See Fig. 6.) The flexible connection D D is jointed at such a point as to admit of a folding of the legs together, as indicated, in that position, and also assists in holding the chair-seat firm against the back when the chair is folded. When the chair is folded in this way, the lower end of the leg 13 projects down farther than the lower ends of the legs A A, and'the loop at the top of the back of the chair aifords a very convenient handle, so that the chair can be used very successfully and conveniently as a cane.

here it is not desired to use the chair in this way but it is only desired to form a very compact folding chair,the construction shown in Fig. 7 is preferred, where the double legs 13 B (the lower ends of which are outwardly curved) are substituted instead of the single leg 13, the construction in all other details being the same.

An examination and testing of my improved chair shows that it is very compact; that it is very light; that by its construction, when in use, it is strong and stable; that in operating the same all the parts are sure to engage properly, and when the chair is in use either as a chair or as a cane it is very firm and very satisfactory.

Having thus described my improved chair, I desire to state that it can be considerably varied in its details without departing from my invention. The flexible connection D D can be dispensed with and still have a very satisfactory and operative chair, although the parts mentioned serve a very useful purpose. Other provision can be made for holding the chair together than the spring it, and I desire to state that other variations will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r 1. In a folding chair, the combination of a back-piece, A, doubled into a loop, the down wardlyextending ends forming the forward legs, A, A, of the chair; the rear leg, B, piv oted at it bet-ween the legs, A, A; the chairseat, 0; the pivot, t, connecting the upper end of the leg, B, and the front of seat, 0; a rod, r, between the legs, A, A, at the height of the back of the seat with an offset therein; hinged connections, D, D, from the rod, r, to the pivot, t; a spring-catch, u, on the leg, B,

to engage the rod, 7", when the chair is closed,

all substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a folding chair, the combination of a backpiece, A, doubled into a loop, the downwardly-extending ends forming theforward legs, A, A, of the chair; the rear leg, B, pivoted at 'nbetween the legs, A, A; the chair-seat, C; the pivot, 13, connecting the upper end of the leg, B, to the front of the seat, 0; the rod, 0'', between the legs, A, A, at the height of the back of the seat; the block-stop, r, on the rear of said chair-seat; hinged connections, D, D, from the rod, 0", to pivot, 25; a spring-catch, u, on the leg, B, to engage the rod, r, when the chair closes, all substantially as described for the purpose specified.

3. In a folding chair, the combination of the back-piece, A, doubled into a loop at the top with the downwardly-extending ends forming the forward legs, A, A, of the chair; the rear leg or legs pivoted at 12 between the legs, A, A; the chair-seat, C; the pivot, t,

connecting the upper end of the rear leg or legs to the front of the chair-seat, C; the rod, 7*, between the legs, A, A, at the height of the back of the seat; a folding connection from the rod, r, to the pivot, i, at the front of the seat; and a suitable clamp for clamping the chair in the folded position, for the purpose specified.

4:. In a folding chair, the combination of a baclepiece extending downwardly and forming the forward legs A A of the chair; the rear leg pivoted at n between the legs A A; the chair-seat O; the pivot, t, connecting the upper end of the leg 13 and the front of seat 0; a rod, 2, between the legs A A at the height of the back of the seat with an offset therein; hinged connections D, D from the rod, r, to the pivot, i; a spring-catch, it, on leg B, to engage the rod, 0', when the chair is closed, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

5. In a folding chair, the combination of a back-piece extending downwardly and forming the forward legs A A of the chair; the rear leg, B, pivoted at, it, between the legs A A; the chair-seat, O; the pivot, 75, connecting the upper end of the leg B, to the front of the seat, 0; the rod, 0', between the legs A A, at the height of the back of the seat; the block-stop, a", on the rear of said chair-seat; hinged connections, D, D from the rod, 0*, to pivot, i; a spring-catch, u, on the leg B, to engage the rod, 1", when the chair closes, all substantially as described.

6. In a folding chair, the combination of a back-piece extending downwardly and forming the forward legs A A of the chair; the rear leg or legs pivoted at, it, between the legs A A the chair-seat, O; the pivot, 2, connecting the upper end of the rear leg or legs to the front of the chair-seat O; the rod, '1', between the legs A A, at the height of the back of the seat; a folding connection from the rod, 7', to the pivot, 25, at the front of the seat; and a suitable clamp for clamping the chair in the folded position, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I havehereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES NIVISON. L. s.]

IVitnesses:

F. IV. UNDERwooD, J. H. PRATT. 

